of freeport



R. A. PATRICK.

FLEXIBLE courum; FOR PROPELLER SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-20. l9l7 I I 1,328,893, Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

IIVVENTOR d firm/Mr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. PATRICK, OF FREEPOR'I', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COLUMBIAN BRONZE CORPORATION, OF FREEPORT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING FOR PROPELLER-SHAFTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application filed April 20,- 1917. Serial No. 163,325.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LROBERT A. PATRICK,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, a citlzen of Canada, resldlng 1n Freep0rt,-

Long Is1and,;county of Nassau, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexlble Goupllngs for Propeller-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flexible couplings for shafting, and more particularly.

to couplings for connecting the adjacent ends of two sections of shafting one of which shafts.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a flexible coupling of the class.

described in which a strong driving connection is maintained between the coupled shafts.

A further important object is the provision of a flexible coupling in which a constant driving connection is maintained between rigid parts of the coupling members. Another object of the invention is the provision of a flexible coupling having simple means for relieving the flexible driving connectlon from strain resulting from endthrust of the coupled shafts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view; 1 Fig. 2 an end elevation, looking at the coupling, as shown in Fig. 1, from the left;

Fig.3 a view similar to Fig. 2, looking from the right; and

Fig. 4 a side elevation. Referrlng to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates a driven shaft, such as a propeller shaftpand 2 designates a driving or engine shaft. A sleeve3 is fixed on the inner end of shaft 1, to rotate therewith, and

a sleeve 4 is fixed on the inner end of the shaft 2 to rotate with said shaft, by means of keys 5,0r otherwise. The ends of the shafts 1 and 2 abut against'the end walls 6 and -7, respectively, of the shaft-reeeiving sockets 8 and 9 in the sleeves 3 and 4. The inner end of sleeve 3' is formed with a rounded and substantially hemispherical extension or bearing member 10, having a bearing ina correspondingly rounded recess or seat 11 7 formed in theinner end wall of the sleeve 4.

Adjacent its inner end, the sleeve '3 isprovided with aplurality of laterally extending spaced arms 12, preferably three in number. The arms 12 are rigidly connected to the sleeve 3 and are preferably formed integrally therewith. The sleeve 4 is formed adjacent its inner end with rigid spaced arms 13 corresponding in number with the arms 12. The sides of the arms 13 are shaped to form angular recesses 14 between said arms. The recesses 14 are preferably made of substantially dovetail form, as shown in the drawings.

An annular ring 15 of leather or other suitable flexible material surrounds the extension 10 on sleeve 3 and is interposed be- I tween the arms 12 and 13. The spaced arms '12 and 13 are arranged in staggered rela tion, the arms 12 being opposite the dovetailed recesses 14 between the arms 13, andthe arms 13 being opposite the spaces be tween arms 12. I i

To provide a rigid driving connection between the arms 12 and 13, the arms 12 are rigidly connected to interlocking clutch through members or washers 19 at the'opposite side of said ring.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings the coupling is shown applied to the adjacent ends of two shafts, the propeller shaft 1 inclining down 'wardly from the engine shaft 2. It will be obvious that as the shafts rotate power is transmitted to arms 12 from arms 13 through the laterally slidable blocks or clutch members 16 rigidly mounted on the arms 12. This rigid driving connection is always maintained, the members 16 sliding back and forth in the seats 14 to compensate for the variations in the relative positions of the arms 12 and 13 during rotation of the shafts; It will be obvious that the member or members at onepoint will be moved in a direction opposite to that of the diametrically opposed member 01' members. The flexible connecting and driving ring 1.5.affords a constant and positive but yielding connection between the arms 13 and the blocks '16 carried by arms 12. As above described, the blocks 16 are loosely seated in the recesses 14 between arms 13 to permit free slidi and lateral rocking or movements of the interlocking members of the coupling relatively to each other during rotation of the coupled shafts. This relative movement is comparativel Y extensive, especially when the coupling is employed to connect the engine and propeller shafts of a vessel which are commonly supported at an ang-leto each other as indicated in Fig. 4 of"'the drawings. By connecting the loosely interlocked rigid members of the coupling by a flexible driving ring it will be obvious that a smooth, even and quiet driving connection is obtained, eliminating the constant jerking which occurs between two loosely engaging driving members and also eliminating the noise and excessive wear incidental to the constantly recurring shocks in suoha connection as well as the resultant strains :on the propeller and the shafti n g.

.tfltiag'movriients in interlocked The flexible ring 15 serves to cushion both the relative tilting movement of he coupling members and the relative rotary movement between the loosely interlocked parts of the cou ling.

end thrust of the propeller shaft is taken 'up by'the ball and socket connection between the bearing extension 10 and seat 11. To prevent rupture of the leather ring 15 the all of the propeller shaft 1 when the prope ier is reversed, I provide each of the members 1 6 with a pair of lugs 20 the ends cf which extend inwardly behind the arms '13 on the sleeve 4 and are normally spaced therefrom as shown in Figs. 1' and 4, te'pernfit'the slidin and rockingmovement of the members 6 heretofore described. These j 20 serve to limit the extent of the la l movement of the members '16 to theleflt, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and thus prevent excessive strain on the leather connecting ring 15when the propeller is driven in the reverse direction. flexible driving connection thus relieved of excessive end thrust strains.

flie'fi eregeing it will be seen 1: at an exceedingly strong and simple cont? is .gl'ovidb "whereby shafts 'journdle' at a ngle maybe driyen, end that a, driving coindrivin'g' connection therebetween,

swim-e: the class SgtfBPtli, as

and a flexible connecting and driving member interposed between the couplin mem- W8 and Po ly vt0 me ate .Qk members. 4

2. A shaft coupling comprising a air of eoupli members, cooperating rigid oosely interloc ed members rotatable with the coupling members, a flexible connecting member rigidly held to said interlocked members, and means for positively limiting the extent of movement of the coupling members toward and each other.

3.A' shaft coupling comprising a pair of sleeves adapted for connection to shafts to be coulp'led, spaced arms rigidly connected to saw sleeve. 5 flexible connecting member interposed "between said arms and rigidly secured thereto, and a series of rigid blocks loosely engaged between the arms on one sleeve and rigidly held tothe arms on the other sleeve audio the flexible connecting member.

4. A shaft coupling comprising a pair of sleeves adapted for connection to shafts to be coupled, spaced arms rigidly connected to each sleeve, means rigidly extending from the arms on one sleeve having a sliding engagement between the arms on the other sleeve whereby said arms may have a relative lateral 'inbvement without breakingdthe an a flexible annular member interposed between the arms on said sleeves and secured to said arms.

5. A shaft co rplin com rising a pair of coupling members a apt'e' Etefconneotion to shafts to rotate therewith, spaced arms rigidly held tosaidmQHib BQ one of said coupling members hayin a rounded bearing member extending axis y "from the inner end thereof 'and'enga'g'ing a corresponding rounded recess ior'm'ed inthe other coupling member, a flexible annular member interposed between thearms andconnected erewith, and blocks slidab'ly seated'between the arms on one 9? ma {coupling members and secured tothe arm: on the other coupling member, the arms of meboupffihg member being arranged 111 staggered relanon withtlie arms an sh other-m mber.

'8. A eealfli m prf sing a pair of r ng 1 a P fl' mmc n to sham "tax-state arms rigidlyhelil to arms "on one member bei g-stag ered with res 'iit' to annular *tb seated in'the' speeds the arms on one fifilhfi 'nyniiviggiasnd- @g'moxe "o aayi' a m ne i ng1 he 7. A the class setlforth ins ra 's ea the ann seitiic'etherme bar, aim e "armsb odks rided with radially extending arms, an annular connecting member of flexible material interposed between the sets of radial arms, fastening devices extending through the arms and said annular member, and blocks engaging between the arms of one member and held against the adjacent face of said annular member by the fastening devices which connect the annular member to the arms of the other coupling member.

8. A device of the class set forth comprising a coupling member provided with a plurality of radially extending projections, blocks e1 aging between said projections and shifta 1e longitudinally of the coupling member, an annular flexible member held to said projections, a second coupling member provided with radiallv extending projections, fastening devices for securing said blocks and the annular member to the projections on the second coupling member, and means for positively limiting the extent to which the annular member may be flexed.

9. A device of the class set forth comprisin a coupling member provided with a plura ity of radially extending projections,

blocks engaging between said projections and shiftable longitudinally of the coupling member, an annular flexible member held to said projections, a second coupling memher provided with radially extending projections, and fastening devices for securing said blocks and the annular member to the rojections on the second. coupling mem er, said blocks being formed with lugs adapted to engage the projections with which the blocks are engaged to limit the movement of the blocks relatively to said projections.

10. A device of the class set forth comprising a coupling member provided with a plurality of radially extending projections, blocks engaging between said projections and shiftable longitudinally of the coupling member, an annular flexible member held to said projections, a second coupling member provided with radially extending projections, fastening devices for securing said blocks and the annular member to the pro jections on the second coupling member, said blocks being formed with lugs adapted to engage the projection with which the blocks are engaged to limit the movement of the blocks relatively to said projections, and said coupling members being provided with an axially arranged end-thrust resisting connection.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ROBERT 'A. PATRICK. 

